Two dead after Oman helicopter crash

This is the type of helicopter that crashed over Oman Thursday. This MH-53E… (U.S. Navy photo by MC-1 2nd…)

July 23, 2012|By Hugh Lessig, hlessig@dailypress.com | 757-247-7821

Two sailors from a Norfolk-based helicopter unit were declared dead over the weekend after an extensive search in the wake of a July 19th crash in Oman.

Dead are Senior Chief Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Sean P. Sullivan, 40, of St. Louis, and Naval Aircrewman Second Class Joseph P. Fitzmorris, 31, of West Monroe, La. Their bodies were not recovered, according to media reports.

Three other crew members survived the crash, the Navy previously reported.

The MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, known as the Blackhawks. The unit moved to Naval Station Norfolkin 2009 from Corpus Christi, Texas,

The helicopter crashed 58 miles southwest of Muscat, Oman, "while conducting heavy lift support operations," according to the Navy. The cause of the crash as not combat related.